Shane’s game is in double trouble at present

SHANE LOWRY has endured a very slow start to his season on the PGA Tour.

It’s a bit of a worry that his game, at the end of March, has not borne any fruit.

He really is a hot-and-cold type player. The big challenge is how you cope with the low points – it’s easy to ride the wave when things are going well.

But it has been a slow transition for Shane. He moved his family over to Florida in January with a view to playing both tours.

Very few manage to do it successfully, and it boils down to this question: Where does your allegiance lie – to the European Tour or the PGA tour? The reality is that Shane Lowry’s allegiance must lie with himself.

Personally, I’d like to see him give Europe a miss this season and focus on the States. The PGA Tour is where all the riches are.

He has played both Tours and not really smashed either. But you can’t have your eye on maybe coming back to Europe if things don’t go well.

So take a stance and say, ‘This is my home, this is where I will be for the next 10 years’ and build a platform from there. He knows he’s good enough, given that win in Akron, which is one of the biggest prizes on offer. He has nothing to prove to anybody.

The only thing he has to do is convince himself yet again – as you have to do in this game, week in and week out. Form is a fleeting thing in golf and it can cause all sorts of anxiety. A clear focus and plan is what makes the ups and the downs not seem too bumpy a ride. You will have your big weeks because you expect to, but you can’t worry about it.

Similarly, why does form turn around in a heart beat? Because you expect it to.

I think Shane isn’t far away from that. But my advice to him would be stay in the States and find your way – it will come.

The alternative, of course, is to now say, ‘That’s it’ – to come back home and forget about the PGA Tour.

Colin Montgomerie is the poster boy for having an amazing career based in Europe.

Plenty to ponder for Lowry, but I’ve no doubt he will find his way.

A LOW POINT Shane’s not been on form recently